28 February 2011

2011 Reading

The Intrusion of Jimmy
by
P.G. Wodehouse

"With some, there is an alloy of apprehension in the metal of their happiness, and the strain of an engagement sometimes brings with it even a faint shadow of regret. 'She makes me buy things,' one swain, in the third quarter of his engagement, was over heard to moan to a friend. 'Two new ties only yesterday.' He seemed to be debating with himself whether human nature could stand the strain."

"Bright eyes might shine for him when all was over, but in the meantime what seemed to him more important was that bulging eyes would glare.

"A man's first crime is, as a rule, a shockingly amateurish affair. Now and then, it is true, we find beginners forging with the accuracy of old hands, or breaking into houses with the finish of experts. But these are isolated cases. The average tyro lacks generalship altogether. Spennie Dreever may be cited as a typical novice. It did not strike him that inquiries might be instituted by Sir Thomas, when he found the money gone, and that suspicion might conceivably fall upon himself. Courage may be born of champagne, but rarely prudence."

1 comment:

ramona said...

A good hearty laugh. One of my favorites. Last sentence is great!!!